The Mavericks team mascot is a beloved symbol of the Dallas Mavericks, an NBA basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. The team mascot is known as "Champ." Champ is a horse and represents the team's fierce and determined spirit. Champ has been the team mascot since the inception of the Mavericks in 1980. The decision to have a horse as the mascot was inspired by the state of Texas and its rich history of horse riding and cowboy culture. Champ embodies these qualities and serves as a reminder of the Mavericks' Texan roots.
An oldie but certainly a goodie, and still a firm favourite with children. Rabbits and magic, what's not to like?
As the assistant raises the curtain, the magician leaps out of the chest which has no back and stands on top of the chest as the assistant drops the curtain and dives under the box. The illusion consists of three parts first, the magician s feet are locked in stocks; next, they are suspended in mid-air from their ankles with a restraint brace; finally, they are lowered into a glass tank overflowing with water and the restraint is locked to the top of the cell.
Champ embodies these qualities and serves as a reminder of the Mavericks' Texan roots. Champ is often seen entertaining fans during games and events. He interacts with the crowd, performing various antics and dance routines.
SPOILER ALERT: Five famous magic tricks revealed
Magic takes on many forms, but essentially it's the illusion of something mysterious or supernatural that captures an audience.
SPOILER ALERT: Avoid reading on if you want to live in a world where magic is real.
Whether it's pulling a rabbit from a hat or sawing an assistant in half, magicians live by an oath never to reveal their tricks of the trade.
But last week world-famous illusionist David Copperfield was asked to disclose his secrets to a jury in the United States during an injury lawsuit.
JOHN LOCHER/APIllusionist David Copperfield, left, listens to questions from attorney Benedict Morelli, in a Las Vegas court. Copperfield testified in a negligence lawsuit involving a British man who claims he was badly hurt when he fell while participating in a 2013 show.
The court heard about a vanishing act which seemingly makes 13 unwitting participants disappear behind a curtain on stage. The big reveal comes when Copperfield unveils the missing participants standing at the back of the room.
One participant claimed he was injured while being escorted down a secret passageway, and his lawsuit forced the mechanics of the trick to be exposed in the courtroom.
NICKY PARK/STUFFCopperfield also captured the world's attention when he made it appear as if he walked through the Great Wall of China. He didn't.
Copperfield argued that "secrets" and a "lot of hard work" went into the success of the tricks and therefore should be protected.
The judge disagreed as it was understood more than 55,000 participants had taken part in the trick over 10 years, his secrets were therefore not so secret.
Wellington magician Paul Bates - who once met Copperfield at a magic convention in the US - said secret or not, the audience is there to be entertained and want to see an illusion.
"Many might already know the trick, but it's about how you execute it that you will be remembered for."
So we thought we'd take a look behind the magician's curtain at some of the classic tricks that have continued to dazzle audiences.
CHINESE WATER TORTURE CELL
The famous Hungarian-American magician Harry Houdini first performed this escape illusion in 1912 in Berlin, Germany.
The illusion consists of three parts: first, the magician's feet are locked in stocks; next, they are suspended in mid-air from their ankles with a restraint brace; finally, they are lowered into a glass tank overflowing with water and the restraint is locked to the top of the cell.
The trick in itself has many risks, and a magician must be in pretty good shape to pull it off. Hanging upside down with the blood rushing to your head, while fully immersed under water for three minutes could be dangerous.
While the assistants padlock the lid shut, they surreptitiously remove the pin from the lid's hinge meaning the magician can push it open with their feet and leverage their way out of the cell. A well-placed key helps remove the rather loose restraints.
MARY ALTAFFER/AP Copperfield's illusion in 1983 gave him worldwide fame.STATUE OF LIBERTY DISAPPEARS
Potentially Copperfield's most well-known trick was making the Statue of Liberty disappear in 1983.
In front of 20 tourists, and millions watching on television around the world, Copperfield raised a giant curtain attached to scaffolding in front of the statue on Liberty Island in Upper New York Bay. When the curtain dropped it had disappeared.
A helicopter hovered overhead to give an aerial view of the illusion and the statue appeared to have vanished, with only the circle of lights surrounding it still present and visible.
The only lights on Liberty Island come from around the statue and once the curtain blocked any view of the statue all the lights were turned off. The curtain was dropped, and at the same time blinding lights attached to the scaffolding beside the statue were turned on, facing the audience and cameras.
The eye is easily tricked into thinking Lady Liberty had disappeared, and well-placed spotlights pointed to the sky - but not on the statue - help sell the illusion.
METAMORPHOSIS OR VANISHING ACT
First seen in the 19th century, this trick is a crowd favourite for its visual appeal.
A magician is tied up in a large cloth bag and locked in a seemingly solid case. The assistant stands on top of the box and raises a curtain over their head before dropping it to reveal the magician standing in place of the assistant. When the magician unlocks the chest the assistant is inside the bag.
Some magic acts perfected this illusion to make the switch in two seconds. However, once you see behind the curtain the trick becomes quite obvious.
The bag has a zip at the bottom which the magician can escape from. As the assistant raises the curtain, the magician leaps out of the chest which has no back and stands on top of the chest as the assistant drops the curtain and dives under the box. As the magician revels in the applause, and takes their sweet time to unlock the case, the assistant was wriggled into the bag and zipped it up.
JASON DORDAY/StuffAt a press conference in Auckland Dynamo appeared as if out of thin air. The illusionist has announced his New Zealand street magic tour. It's Dynamo's first visit to New Zealand.
LEVITATION OR WALKING ON WATER
Jesus Christ supposedly did it first, but walking on water and levitation is a favourite of magicians. It was made famous by the magician Steve Frayne, known as Dynamo, when in 2011 he walked across the River Thames in London.
The trick really needs no explaining - the magician is suspended in the air, or walks across the water, without an obvious tell alerting the audience to the illusion.
The secret of this trick, which is highly popular among street magicians, is a cleverly hidden support. That is why the magicians who perform it often stand in a way which perfectly conceals the end of their staff or rod: the latter simply has an extended support passing through their clothes.
It's the same principle under the water, a perspex platform allows the magician to appear as if they're walking on water.
VIV POSSELT/STUFF Levitating is a magician's favourite as the illusion is hard to detect.PULLING A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT
An oldie but certainly a goodie, and still a firm favourite with children. Rabbits and magic, what's not to like?
The trick has become so popular it's now a symbol for magic all around the globe.
There are three ways to sell it. The most obvious is to use a table with a hidden drawer big enough to fit a rabbit. Add a concealed hole for the magician to reach through and you can get a rabbit in a hat.
The second is to install a secret a compartment inside the hat, slide the compartment door open to reveal a rabbit inside.
The final way is when a magician uses sleight of hand, with a rabbit sitting in a bag hooked to a table. While waving their arms around, the rabbit is whisked out of the bag and produced from the back of the magician's hand into the hat.
SUPPLIEDUK magician Dynamo made his name by walking across the River Thames. He will perform to audiences in New Zealand during July this year.
The mascot is known for its energy and charisma, keeping the fans engaged and excited throughout the games. In addition to entertaining the fans, Champ also participates in community events and charity programs. The mascot has become a recognizable figure in the Dallas community, often visiting schools and hospitals to bring joy to children and spread team spirit. Champ wears a customized Mavericks jersey and is accompanied by a team of entertainers who assist in engaging the crowd. The mascot's presence adds an element of fun and excitement to the games, creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for fans of all ages. Overall, the Mavericks team mascot, Champ, serves as a symbol of team spirit, Texas pride, and community engagement. Whether entertaining fans during games or spreading joy outside the arena, Champ has become an integral part of the Mavericks' identity and connects the team with its loyal fanbase..
Reviews for "The Mavericks team mascot: A beloved figure of the franchise"
1. John - 1 star: The Mavericks team mascot is the most ridiculous and unappealing mascot I have ever seen. Its design is just plain awful and doesn't represent the team or their spirit in any way. The costume is poorly made, and the person inside it doesn't seem to have any enthusiasm or energy. It's a complete letdown and a waste of resources.
2. Sarah - 2 stars: I was really disappointed with the Mavericks team mascot. It lacks creativity and originality. It looks like a generic cartoon character that has been thrown together at the last minute. The mascot doesn't interact with the crowd or engage the fans in any meaningful way. Overall, it's a forgettable and unimpressive addition to the team's image.
3. Mike - 2 stars: The Mavericks team mascot is just plain weird. Its appearance is confusing and doesn't make any sense. It doesn't have anything to do with basketball or the team's identity. The lack of coherence in its design and concept is evident, making it hard to connect with the mascot or enjoy its presence during games. Overall, it's a missed opportunity to create a memorable and exciting mascot for the Mavericks.
4. Laura - 1 star: The Mavericks team mascot is an embarrassment. It looks like a cheap knockoff of other popular mascots, lacking any originality or charm. The costume lacks attention to detail and is poorly made. It's clear that not much thought or effort went into creating this mascot. I would've expected better from a professional sports team like the Mavericks. It's a disappointment and not worth the hype.